70% of Harare's raw sewage discharged into environment

Harare is grappling with a severe wastewater management crisis, with the city council admitting that at least 70 percent of raw sewage entering treatment plants is discharged untreated into the environment. The disclosure appears in the city's draft master plan (2025–2045), currently on public exhibition until October 2025, which also warns that the capital's treatment capacity has fallen below 40 percent.

Aged infrastructure and an overburdened sewer network, compounded by population densification and illegal occupancy of single-dwelling units, are cited as major contributors to the crisis. The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) estimates that about 54 megalitres of raw sewage flow into Lake Chivero, the capital's main water source, each day.

The report highlights that wastewater from burst pipes and blockages in high-density suburbs often ends up in rivers and streams, ultimately reaching the lake. Industrial effluent and chemicals from urban agriculture further exacerbate water contamination. While the city maintains that tap water remains safe to drink, the master plan concedes that old distribution pipes often carry contaminants, forcing residents to allow water to settle in containers before use.

EMA director of environmental management services Steady Kangata confirmed the severity of the problem, noting that some treatment plants are barely functional while others are dry due to broken channels, leading to untreated wastewater spilling into the environment. Kangata also pointed to the destruction of wetlands, which naturally filter water, as worsening the crisis.

Residents have felt the impact firsthand. Precious Shumba, executive director of the Harare Residents Trust, reported discoloured water and complaints about skin irritation, likely due to treatment chemicals. Service delivery was further disrupted during a two-week strike by council water and sewerage workers in September 2025, following the deaths of two employees at Firle Sewerage Treatment Works who lacked protective equipment.

The draft master plan recommends investments in new water sources, including incremental development of the Kunzvi and Musami schemes, as well as feasibility studies for the Muda and Mazowe dams. Shumba also called for the appointment of substantive directors in key council departments, warning that acting managers are hampering effective operations.

The ongoing crisis underscores the urgent need for coordinated action among government agencies, residents, and other stakeholders to prevent further environmental degradation and safeguard public health in Harare.